Our Services

Research

We design and deliver high-quality research that brings clarity to complex risks and opportunities associated with the UK’s creative, cultural and heritage sector. By blending robust data analysis with lived experiences and sector knowledge, we surface new insights that help our sectors, and communities, to drive real policy change.

We work with researchers based in universities, research institutes, policy units and think tanks to help them translate their findings into policy recommendations that are evidence-informed, implementable and impactful

Collaborative by design: We co-create research with cultural practitioners, policymakers, and academics to ensure relevance and rigour.
Mixed methods: Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches gives our research both breadth and depth which appeals to different stakeholder groups.
Accessible outputs: From detailed reports to bite-sized insights, we make sure findings reach the people who need them - clearly and persuasively.
Public interest at our core: As a values-led, not-for-profit organisation, we take a ecosystem approach to our research which centres the public good over commercial gain.
Culture in Crisis – the world’s largest piece of research examining how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted our sectors. Informed UK Government and devolved government departmental decision making in real-time throughout the pandemic period.
Connecting Through Culture as we Age - a year long study examining how people can be included in the design of digital products and services that enable them to express their full creative selves as they get older. Resulted in several prototypes that are now being developed.

Policy

We shape policy that works in real world contexts. By sitting at the intersection of culture, politics, and civil society, we help organisations and governments craft policies that empower creativity, support equity, and meet future challenges too.

We work closely with policymakers operating at the local, regional and national levels and across the creative, cultural and heritage sectors to co-design new policies that help them drive towards their policy priorities.

Lived knowledge meets political fluency: Our team draws on experience across the creative industries, cultural sectors, government, and academia.
From grassroots to Whitehall: We work across all levels - from local authorities and sector bodies, right up to parliaments and governments – tailoring solutions to each context.
Co-designed, not top-down: We ensure the voices of artists, practitioners and communities are included in all our work to ensure policies are not only impactful, but just.
Future-focused: Whether it’s environmental sustainability or digital innovations that impact our sectors, we have an eye on future-proofing cultural policy frameworks.
The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK – a major four nations open policy development programme in coalition with 30 partners that examined the risks and opportunities that the ‘devolution revolution’ might present to our sectors.

Advocacy

We build momentum for real-world, positive change. We lead strategic advocacy that elevates the voices within our sectors, mobilises evidence, and strengthens influence in the corridors of power whilst proactively opening them up to under-represented voices.

We engage with elected politicians and officials at the local, regional and national levels and stay up to date with key legislative and policy developments within relevant parliaments. We increasingly advise elected mayors and regional leaders the devolution revolution extends and deepens across the UK.

Ecosystem insight: We map and connect stakeholders - from funders and unions to MPs and grassroots leaders - to shift the dial at scale.
Narrative as power: We help our sectors shape the story of why investment matters, grounding arguments in data, community voice and lived experiences.
Tailored campaigns: From roundtables and briefings to major public campaigns, we design advocacy strategies that fit the moment and the mission.
Trusted convenors: Our rigorous impartiality and reputation across sectors and political parties enables us to bring unusual allies together in service of shared goals.
National Performing Companies of Scotland – working with Scotland’s flagship cultural organisations to identify collective impacts. Secured first uplift in a national Budget in over 15 years.
English Civic Museums Network – working with circa 100 museums across England to build a case for investment. Secured a £20 million fund dedicated to museums in urgent need of repair from the UK Government.

Evaluation

We provide tailored evaluation services that capture the values, impacts, and learnings from creative, cultural and heritage projects, programmes and policy interventions.

Working with quantitive and qualitative data, we take mixed-methods and evidence-led approaches that lead to robust, people-centre evaluations that bring statistics and stories together for maximum impact.

We work on evaluations for national cultural organisations, research institutions, local authorities and government departments.

Participatory methods: We involve the public, practitioners, and programme partners in defining success and measuring progress against.
Learning-led approach: Our evaluations aren’t just about reporting - they support strategic development and spotlight future options for key stakeholders.
Sector-savvy frameworks: We apply evaluation tools that capture the nuance of creative, cultural and heritage work.
Values-driven insight: As a mission-led organisation, our evaluations go beyond short-term stats to trumpet and instead look to champion equity, access, and long-term potential.
High Street Heritage Action Zone, Chatham - a detailed evaluation of a major collaborative educational programme for University of Kent, Medway Council and Historic England unpacking the benefits of unique practical teaching module. Informed a new teaching model for university students and project to establish an ‘Urban Room’ in the town.
Creative Improvement Districts - a comprehensive report on the policy impact of these specialist zones for sector development in urban areas. Led to the development of several new recommendations for cities across the UK.